New Orleans Saints fans might not agree, but Time Magazine has taken notice of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Time listed Goodell as one of 40 candidates for its annual "Person of the Year."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a candidate for Time Magazine's 2012 'Person of the Year'Bill Kostroun, The Associated Press

The designation goes to the person, idea, group or object that "most influenced the news this year, for better or worse," according to its website. 2011's winner was "The Protestor."

Readers can vote for Goodell or other candidates to influence the magazine's decision as to who to put on its cover, although the final say ultimately goes to the editors. Goodell isn't a very popular choice so far, with 95 percent of voters saying "no way."

Time described Goodell as a man who "has stamped his imprint all over the most valuable sports brand in the U.S."

"When he became NFL commissioner in 2006, he took a hard line against player misconduct, handing out steep suspensions for bad off-field behavior," the website description said. "Now, after evidence has emerged that head contact sustained in football could be responsible for long-term brain damage, Goodell is preaching player safety: he has enacted rule changes that seek to prevent dangerous hits and went so far as to suspend the coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton, for an entire season because of the team's bounty program."

Votes can be cast until Dec. 12, and the winner will be announced Dec. 14